Got a hatchling Musk Turtle

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dragogreen

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 8, 2008
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Yesterday i just picked up a hatchling common musk turtle that is about inch in size. Is it advised to leave the turtle in my standard 60 gallon tank thats almost filled up with a turtle dock and a few ornaments for it to rest on? or should i move it to a smaller tank for a few months?
 
MUCH smaller tank.
around 4 inches deep at the most for the first month or so.
 
you can keep it in the 60 just make sure that it is CRAMMED with stuff for it to climb on but you wont really see him for a while....
 
I just hatched a clutch of mush turtles. That tank is serious overkill for a musk turtle. They do not like water that is too deep and as others have already said, they need LOTS of structure to sit and climb on.

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I agree, I've always kept new hatchlings in a few inches of water for there first few months of life. Gradually it can go deeper but keep in mind that they're not the greatest swimmers and prefer to walk along the bothom or climb something to get towards the surface. Once you get them eating they're easy to take care of.

Here's my current pair.
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Thanks everyone for your input/advice! i shall get a smaller tank for it until it gets larger. Great looking turtles everyone :)!
 
I want a Musk turtle so bad!
But I need to move my RES somewhere.
Post pics of your little one when you can
 
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